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Thursday, February 7, 2008

Well, the Chinese Lunar New Year is here! We seem to be having a lot of holidays this time of year, don't we? I guess the best part about the holidays (at least, the ones this week) is that we don't have to give into the Hallmark-yness of the season. That is, until the 14th when we become innundated by flowers, candy, and heart shaped everything for 24 hours. Not that it's necessarily a bad thing, mind you, as Andrew knows - I love my quirky flowers (vibrant orange tiger lilies are my ultimate favourite flowers, followed by deep red or orange Calla lilies, but when it comes to roses I'll take buttery, cheerful yellow or the rosy peach colours. No classic red for me, haha!).

So, holidays aside, I've been in a huge muffin-y mood lately. Not eating them (that's a bit tricky for me, you see), but rather baking them. All kinds, and new flavour blends... whatever tickles my fancy and uses up things like leftover frosting, flavourings and assorted dairy. And I'm still using up that frosting!! Sheesh, who'd have thought? Ah well, I guess another baked doughnut will be next to pop out of the old oven. I'm considering giving the poor beast a name, it's been very loyal in it's service to me and it seems unfair that I don't mention it often enough, haha. It will be getting a thorough workout in the next few days, in any case, seeing as my seminar garnered a rash of orders, followed by a secret special request that will be blogged about soon (if I ever get the e-mail reply from the potential customer, that is!).

So anyways, three muffins coming your way, each with a rather chocolate focus, and since two of them found their way quickly into my sister's hands (and subsequently stomach), and the remaining (and fruity) cakelette safe and sound with my ever willing to eat my stuff dad (and I thank him for it), I think my muffin skills are pretty well-established and my muffin pans are beginning to cry uncle.

I made these to satisfy a craving my sister (who's pet name is Schmee) was having for the jumbo double-chocolate-chip muffins that Costco sells. While they aren't AS big, they are still intensely chocolate, and sure to please any fiend out there when they're warm or cold! They also freeze well, and are delicious microwaved for a few seconds to warm em up.

A note for this last muffin / cupcake: it would probably have been better if I had used a jumbo muffin cup for this sucker, but since a) I'm too cheap to buy one for now and b) there was no way in heck I was going outside again after slipping and sliding on the snow and ice this morning, a very muffin-toppy looking cakelette is what I got. I doubt the taste changed, though!